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U.S. citizen
A1
How do I help my
relative become a
U.S. permanent resident?
Your relatives place in line will be based on the date you file your
petition. So there is an advantage to filing as soon as possible. There
is no waiting period for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, which
include a U.S. citizens spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21
years of age.
What about my relatives family?
In most cases, when your relative reaches the front of the line, your
relatives spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age can
join him or her by also applying for an immigrant visa. (If the family
member is already in the United States, he or she may be able to
file a Form I-485 application to adjust status based on the relatives
approved visa petition.)
For example: You file a petition for your married daughter. You
cannot directly petition for her husband and children. However, when
your daughters place in line allows her to apply for a Green Card,
her husband and children can apply for immigrant visas at the same
time with your daughter.
As a U.S. citizen, you must file a separate petition for each one of
your direct relatives, including your own children.
For example: To sponsor your mother and father, file a separate
petition for each. If they have other childrenyour brothers
and sistersfile a separate petition for each of them. Visas are
immediately available for mothers and fathers of U.S. citizens, but
visas are not immediately available for brothers and sisters of U.S.
citizens; therefore, they will have to wait for visa availability.
For example: You marry someone with a child. The child will
usually qualify as your stepchild if he or she was unmarried and
under 18 years of age at the time of your marriage. In this example,
you are required to file two petitions: one petition for your wife and
another for the child.
1
Key Information
Key USCIS forms referenced
Form #
in this guide
Petition for Alien Relative
I-130
I-485
Affidavit of Support
I-864
www.usa.gov
New
Immigrants
www.welcometoUSA.gov
U.S. Dept.
of State
www.state.gov
www.travel.state.gov/visa
1-800-333-4636
1-202-647-6575